You love your waterfront home and the stunning aquatic views that greet you every day! Water has always calmed your soul and you’ve dreamed of owning a home on the water your whole life and now that dream is reality.
Waterfront homes don’t come cheap though. Studies show that waterfront homes cost 46% more than similar homes located more inland.
The one thing that would make your home perfect is a dock for your boat. But what kinds of boat docks are there?
We put together a list of the different kinds of docks you could see on today’s bodies of water. Keep reading to find inspiration for adding a dock to your waterfront home.
Types of Dock Materials
The first thing you should consider when deciding on what kind of dock to build is what material you want to make the dock out of. Here are a few of the most common dock materials you’ll see.
Plastic Docks
Plastic and polyurithane docks withstand the test of time and the punishing weathering of the water. Using plastic for your dock means you’ll need to spend much less time and money on dock maintenance!
Wood Docks
When you imagine an old fashioned dock, what is it made of? Almost everyone would think of a wooden weathered and silver from years of use.
There are some down sides to using wood for your dock material. Wood will degrade over time, even if you use sealant! As a wooden dock ages, they’re susceptible to rotting, warping, splitting and/or splintering.
Aluminum Docks
Another option is to use aluminum to build your dock. Aluminum won’t weather like wood does, but it will corrode over time. That means they’ll last longer than your wooden docks, but not as long as a dock made of plastic.
Dock Lights
One thing most well made docks of all kinds have is good lighting. If you’re trying to dock your boat at dusk, it’s harder to see than you might think! Having a few solar dock lights ensure that you can see your dock when bringing in your boat and you won’t slip off the edge and into the water.
Temporary Dock Options
The first kind of dock you’ll see is a temporary dock. You can store these docks away when you don’t need them, but feel less like standing on dry land. Here are a few kinds of temporary docks.
Piling Dock
If you live on the ocean or where the water level varies by a lot, a piling dock might work for you. You build a piling dock by inserting several large beams (or pilings) into the ground as far out into the water as you want your dock to go. Then the dock connects to the pilings using hoops or rollers which will allow the dock to rise and fall as the water level changes.
Floating Dock
This kind of dock sits on the surface of the water using airtight drums, often made with plastic. They raise and lower with the tides, so they’ll never end up underwater. You can often buy these in premade sections that make a floating dock a easy, modular dock option!
Pipe Dock
If you like the idea of a piling dock, but not the price tag, look at a few pipe docks. These kinds of docks use an aluminum frame that is easy to move and store in case the water freezes.
Another benefit of a pipe dock is that they have the least contact with the environment and the least impact on the local nature!
Permanent Boat Docks
If you have the space and you don’t mind having a dock jutting out into the waterway all the time, a permanent dock is the ticket. These are some types of permanent docks for your waterfront home.
Suspension Dock
A suspension dock is like a suspension bridge, but it only connects to land on one end. These docks look super sleek and modern, but come with a hefty price tag!
Those looking to install a suspension dock should note that you can’t remove these docks in the case of strong winds or storms. During severe weather, a suspension dock could incur damage and need expensive repairs.
Crib Dock
This kind of dock involves placing large wooden crates (open wooden boxes) and then filling them with large rocks and boulders. Then, decking lays on top of the crates, making a super sturdy raised platform over the water.
Keep in mind that these kinds of docks will disrupt any natural currents along side it and will impact the environment. But, these sturdy docks last deckades with very little maintenance effort.
Stop Daydreaming about a Dock and Do It!
these are some of the most common boat docks you’ll see with today’s waterfront homes. If none of these options suit your fancy, you could even have a custom dock made!
Having a dock means you have a spot where you can tie up your boat, spend time fishing without going out onto the boat, or even kick back and enjoy the scenery! If you’re looking for a way to make your waterfront home even better, a dock will do it!
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned a few new types of docks for waterfront homes. If you’re looking for more home improvement tips, travel tips, and much more, check out the rest of our blog today!
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